20th Century Health Care

Healthcare in the United States has changed dramatically over the last hundred or so years. Before the 20th century, individuals and families were responsible for their own care without government involvement. People did the best they could to stay healthy with epidemics arising. The early 1900’s saw hospitals being built and physicians being trained. Still most services were free or government paid. The U.S. was learning more and more about medical services. During World War II it became clear that U.S. citizens needed health insurance. In the beginning, only employer provided insurance was available. The government acknowledged this problem and in the mid-60’s Medicare and Medicaid were introduced. Medicare covers individuals over 65, and
In 2010, the Affordable Care Act was implemented (Health, 2017). The idea was to offer healthcare to individuals that otherwise could not get insurance. The Affordable Care Act has not been what Americans hoped it would be. As an individual that has been uninsured for years, I have not been impressed with it. I have a family member that recently sit in on a session with President Trump concerning the problems with healthcare. Joel Brown, a farmer from Friendship, Tennessee says his premiums have increased to over $500 a month with a deductible of $7,000. Like many others, Brown considered paying the penalty rather than continuing the coverage (Collins, 2017). I also have chosen to pay the penalty because it was cheaper for me than any coverage I could get through the Affordable Care Act. Despite the problems with the Affordable Care Act, the government still plays a huge role in healthcare today. President Trump is working to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with hopefully something that works better. I think as time goes on, the government will become more and more involved in healthcare for better or